Rep. Buddy Carter Requests FCC Review of Networks' Broadcast Decisions During Trump's Address

Rep. Buddy Carter, a Republican from Georgia, has requested that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) review the broadcast decisions of ABC, NBC, and CBS regarding President Donald Trump's primetime address on July 16. In a letter addressed to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Carter expressed concerns that the networks' actions may violate their obligation to serve the public interest and could impact future broadcast license evaluations. He emphasized that while networks are entitled to critique the President's statements, they should still air significant presidential addresses. Carter noted that the refusal to broadcast Trump's speech could prevent Americans from being informed about national issues, specifically regarding election integrity and national security. He criticized the networks for not providing access to the speech on primary television channels, arguing that streaming services do not serve as an adequate substitute for those without reliable internet access. The letter follows Trump's address in which he made claims about election vulnerabilities and criticized the networks for not airing his speech. ABC and NBC streamed the address on their digital platforms, while CBS joined the broadcast after it had started but cut away before Trump finished his remarks. Fox News Digital has reached out to the FCC and the networks for comments.